TEA – Aberdeen Central overcame a lengthy lightning delay to take down down Tea Area 2-0 in an Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ soccer game Tuesday night.
The contest was scoreless when it was delayed. When action resumed, the Golden Eagles were able to take control with a pair of goals in the final 25 minutes.
“The girls did a good job of getting back out, getting warmed back up, focused back on the game and going at them,” said Central coach Merle Aske.
The Golden Eagles got on the board with a free kick by Addyson Salrank that connected with Lucy Fritz who found the net at the back post. Keyana Stillman added an insurance goal in the final five minutes on an assist from Espynn Kuhfeld.
Meanwhile, Central’s defense was up to the challenge and limited the Titans to just seven shots on goal during the game.
“The girls did a good job of holding pressure on them and doing what we needed to do. They got a couple of looks here and there, but nothing overly substantial,” Aske said. “That’s the thing, we’ve got to do a good job like we did today of denying chances for the other team to get quality looks at the goal.”
The Golden Eagles are in the middle of a challenging week with games at Tea and Sioux Falls Lincoln back-to-back in a three-day span.
Central, 5-3-1, heads back down the interstate on Thursday to face a Lincoln team that has lost just once this season.
“They’ll just be a solid team. They’re going to be decent everywhere,” Aske said. “We have to take our chances and break them down when we can, and when we get the ball in the right spots, we’ve got to finish.”
Aberdeen Central 0 2 – 2
Tea Area 0 0 – 0
First Half: No scoring.
Second Half: 1, AC, Lucy Fritz (Addyson Salfrank), 55th minute; 2, AC, Keyana Stillman (Espynn Kuhfeld), 75th minute.
Goalies: Aberdeen Central, Ava Beck (5 saves); Tea Area, Brooklyn Youngstrom (15 saves).
Shots: Aberdeen Central, 30 shots, 17 on goal; Tea Area, 19 shots, 7 on goal.
